Feathery Horses

[Plowboy]

Now that the days are getting shorter I have more computer time in the evening. I frequently check recent additions on Drafts for Sale this time of year. I can’t help but notice that there is a large amount of Clydesdales, Shires and Gypsy Vanners advertised there. Could it be that in these lean times the impractical draft animals are being sold off because they serve less practical purposes because they aren’t often seen in the field or forest?? These horses used to command high prices for showing or carriage work but Clydes and Shires are going cheap. The Vanners are priced high probably because the owners paid too much for them or the breeding stock they came from and have a dim hope to try and recover some of that expense but don’t seem to be selling very fast.

[Gulo]

Shires and clydes are not common in North America, but that doesn’t make them impractical. There’s plenty of folks doing plenty with them elsewhere – the UK, Australia for instance. I have Clydes out of personal preference and they seem to do the work just fine. I’ve heard talk about how their feather is hard to keep clean, but in my experience it’s mostly self-cleaning. I haven’t spent a single minute tending their feather yet. As far as not being as strong as some of the others, they seem plenty strong enough. Everyday life is not a pulling-contest. And the clydes at least are quicker on the road, so perhaps a better “all-rounder.” Their hooves need lots of work, granted. But to me they’re worth it – no heavy horse can match a Clyde for grace, style and beauty in my mind, and all things being workable, these are attributes I appreciate in my life.

Now mind-you, plenty of them are probably being ruined for work by the show people breeding for giraffe-like attributes. But the same is true of Belgians and Percherons. I’ve seen some bizzarre looking examples of both breeds. Hardly look like heavy horses some of them.

[Author]

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